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WSM is a 50,000-watt clear channel AM radio station in Nashville TN
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(David P.)
Mar 30, 2020, 4:05:48 PM3/30/20
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WSM (branded as The Legend) is a 50,000-watt clear channel AM radio station located in Nashville, Tennessee. It broadcasts a full-time country music format (with classic country & Americana leanings, the latter of which is branded as "Route 650") at 650 kHz & is known primarily as the home of The Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest running radio program. The station's clear channel signal can reach much of North America & nearby countries, especially late at night. It is one of two clear-channel stations in North America, along with CFZM in Toronto, that still primarily broadcast music; as recently as 2020, the station was live & locally originated during the overnight hours, but the overnight host position was eliminated in Feb 2020. Nicknamed "The Air Castle of the South," it shares its callsign with WSM-FM, also in Nashville, and formerly with TV Channel 4, now WSMV.
Founded by the National Life & Accident Insurance Co, WSM first signed on Oct 5, 1925. It is primarily associated with the popularization of country music thru its weekly Saturday night program, the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history. The Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance on Nov 28, 1925, with Uncle Jimmy Thompson as the first performer. On Dec 10, 1927, the program's host, "Judge" George D. Hay, referred to the programming as being "Grand Ole Opry" in contrast to the preceding grand opera program on NBC. In 1932, WSM boosted its power to 50,000 watts, becoming Tennessee's first clear-channel station. In addition to its vast nighttime coverage area, the station boasts one of the largest daytime coverage areas in the country. It provides at least grade B coverage as far southeast as Chattanooga, as far northwest as Evansville, Indiana, as far west as Jackson, Tennessee and as far south as Huntsville, Alabama. At night, it can be heard in much of the eastern & central U.S.
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The station traditionally played country music in the nighttime hours, when listeners from around the U.S. would tune in. During daytime hours, the station broadcast long-form radio, including both local & NBC network programs, in addition to music. After TV became popular (thus largely eliminating the audience for full-length radio programs), WSM adopted a "MOR" (middle of the road) music format during the daytime hours, & continued to play country music at night. It was not until 1980 that WSM adopted the 24-hour country music format of today.
WSM is credited with helping shape Nashville into a recording industry capital. Because of WSM's wide reach, musical acts from all across the eastern U.S. came to Nashville in the early decades of the station's existence, in hopes of getting to perform on WSM. Over time, as more acts & recording companies came to Nashville, the city became known as the center of the country music industry. Disc jockey David Cobb is credited with first referring to Nashville as "Music City USA", a designation that has since been adopted as the city's official nickname by the local tourism board.
In 1996, the station was named Radio Station of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSM_(AM)
Founded by the National Life & Accident Insurance Co, WSM first signed on Oct 5, 1925. It is primarily associated with the popularization of country music thru its weekly Saturday night program, the Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history. The Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance on Nov 28, 1925, with Uncle Jimmy Thompson as the first performer. On Dec 10, 1927, the program's host, "Judge" George D. Hay, referred to the programming as being "Grand Ole Opry" in contrast to the preceding grand opera program on NBC. In 1932, WSM boosted its power to 50,000 watts, becoming Tennessee's first clear-channel station. In addition to its vast nighttime coverage area, the station boasts one of the largest daytime coverage areas in the country. It provides at least grade B coverage as far southeast as Chattanooga, as far northwest as Evansville, Indiana, as far west as Jackson, Tennessee and as far south as Huntsville, Alabama. At night, it can be heard in much of the eastern & central U.S.
===========
The station traditionally played country music in the nighttime hours, when listeners from around the U.S. would tune in. During daytime hours, the station broadcast long-form radio, including both local & NBC network programs, in addition to music. After TV became popular (thus largely eliminating the audience for full-length radio programs), WSM adopted a "MOR" (middle of the road) music format during the daytime hours, & continued to play country music at night. It was not until 1980 that WSM adopted the 24-hour country music format of today.
WSM is credited with helping shape Nashville into a recording industry capital. Because of WSM's wide reach, musical acts from all across the eastern U.S. came to Nashville in the early decades of the station's existence, in hopes of getting to perform on WSM. Over time, as more acts & recording companies came to Nashville, the city became known as the center of the country music industry. Disc jockey David Cobb is credited with first referring to Nashville as "Music City USA", a designation that has since been adopted as the city's official nickname by the local tourism board.
In 1996, the station was named Radio Station of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSM_(AM)
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